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According to researchers, irrigation farming is considered to be the basis of Central Asian economy in ancient times. It should be noted that for the first time farming based on artificial irrigation appeared on the modern territory of Southern Turkmenistan, presumably, in IV–III millennium BC, and then, in III–II millennium BC, it spread to the south of Uzbekistan. This contributed to the appearance of the first state formations in Central Asia, mainly located along the banks of the rivers: the Amu Darya (Upper, Lower, Middle), in the oases of Murghab and Surkhan. This is due to the fact that in these territories artificial irrigation is much more favourable. This situation can be traced back to the example of the first world civilisations – Egypt (Nile River) and Mesopotamia (Tigris and Froth Rivers). It is the study of the irrigation history of these territories that helps to identify the factors that led to socio-economic changes in society and, as a consequence, to statehood. The author considers not only studies on the emergence and development of irrigation system in Central Asia, but also the sources of water most important for human life, namely the history of large and small rivers and streams.

The paper substantiates the etymologies of some toponyms of the upper Euphrates and the historical regions adjacent to it. The period of the last two-three and a half thousand years provided the most significant information. The methodology of the performed work is not borrowed. The phonetic and semantic matrices presented in the article can be used to determine the etymology of the corresponding toponyms in subsequent studies.

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Relevance: assessment of the possibility of preserving the mineral resource base of the enterprise by minimizing the reserves in the security areas under the Urup River while maintaining the stability of the Earth's surface. Objective: to determine and propose the optimal parameters of ore extraction technologies in the zone of influence of the Urup River with the preservation of the earth's surface under technogenic influence. Objects: the Earth's surface, native massifs and artificial massifs made of hardening mixtures erected in the developed treatment space. Methods: modeling of safe conditions for the extraction of ores from pillars in the zone of influence of the river, carried out using a complex of well-known and original laboratory, analytical and field methods. Determination of the patterns of behavior of water-saturated rocks is carried out in the laboratory with imitation of processes in riverine pillar, by assessing the phenomenon of immersion of the pillar in the water-weakened soil of the treatment work. Results. Quantitative values of horizontal deformations limiting for these conditions are determined. The method of forecasting the process of rock movement based on calculations is substantiated. A methodology was developed to assess the possibility of applying the technology of continuous ore extraction in the Urup River zone, based on the permissible deformations of the Earth's surface and compression of the laying mixtures. The authors experimentally justified possibility and boundary conditions of dredging of stocks of pillars under the river by the pillar-and-room development system with the laying of the worked-out space with solid mixtures to ensure the safety of the Earth's surface. Measures are recommended to ensure the stability of the outcrops of the treatment workings in the period between the formation of the treatment chambers and their laying, on the direction of development of the treatment works and to determine the permissible spans of the workings.

The article considers the features of the formation of the settlement structure of the Golden Horde period in the area of the Ural River basin in the north-east of the Caspian Sea. The archaeological sites located on the banks of the Ural River of this era include the settlements: Saraychik, Zhaiyk, Zhalpaktal and Aktobe-Laeti. Based on the materials of archaeological research, the geographical characteristics of the region, the historical topography of their location and the peculiarity of the planography of urban development are analyzed. The materials of the addition of the urban settlements of the Golden Horde on the Ural River are presented, as well as the historical topography of the settlements and the features of housing construction are reconstructed.

The problems with the Iranian-Afghan water issue are the result of the demarcation of the border between the two countries caused by external interference at different historical periods. Over the past 150 years, four agreements have been signed between Iran and Afghanistan on the use of water from border rivers, but they have never been fully implemented. The issue of water resources is a very sensitive for Iran and Afghanistan. Over the years, the emergence of complex environmental, agricultural, economic, social, legal, security, political and military factors has exacerbated the situation. Out of geopolitical interests, Great Britain and Russia divided the territories of Iran and Afghanistan into zones of influence in 1907, essentially depriving these countries of their sovereignty. In this situation, the settlement of border disputes between Iran and Afghanistan was entrusted to a third party, namely Great Britain, Turkey and the United States. Since the aforementioned countries were guided by their own interests when drawing the border between Iran and Afghanistan, as a result of the demarcation between the sides, it was not possible to find a solution to the water use of the Helmand River that would satisfy both Iran and Afghanistan. Iran and Afghanistan, as sovereign states, first began direct talks to resolve the water issue at the beginning of the 1970s. In 1973, the first and the only contract still in force was signed. In order to fully resolve the water issue between Iran and Afghanistan, it is essential to create an atmosphere of mutual trust between the two sides. The security, socio-economic and environmental factors that have emerged over the last two decades have hindered the formation of such an atmosphere. Attempts by the Iranian and Afghan authorities to find a comprehensive solution to the problem after the Islamic Revolution have failed. The water issue is now so complicated that it can only be resolved through political will. However, since both sides cannot but consider the socio-economic situation of the population and social pressures when making a political decision, they will be more inclined to make populist decisions in order to avoid aggravation of the internal situation. The hydropolitical policy directions pursued by Iran and Afghanistan indicate that the sides will also continue to use the water factor as a tool of pressure in the near future. Evaluating the statements of the Iranian military-political management on the water issue, it can be stated that the water issue has long ceased to be a merely ecological and agricultural one. Given the ethno-religious picture of the Sistan-Baluchestan province of Iran and the challenges threatening the province (terrorism, separatism), Iranian security forces are extremely sensitive to the water issue. Afghanistan is a strategically significant neighbor for Iran. The water issue is the possible factor that puts Iran in a serious dilemma. On the one hand, Tehran cannot jeopardize bilateral relations due to socio-economic problems in Sistan-Baluchestan, but on the other hand, failure to resolve the water issue can exacerbate the already tense situation in the province, leading to border clashes, which, in turn, could escalate into a large-scale conflict. Regular armed clashes on the Iranian-Afghan border since the formation of the Taliban interim government in Afghanistan, as well as the fact that Afghanistan’s neighboring countries have not formally recognized the Taliban authorities, make it almost impossible to reach definite agreements. Iran, despite tough public statements, will continue to pursue a cautious policy towards the Taliban in its real politics. If it puts pressure on the Taliban over water issue, the Taliban will simply block the flow of the Hirmand River into Iran, as they did in the 1990s. In that case, Iran will have to resort to tough measures to solve the problem, which, however, is not in Iran’s strategic interests. The fact that Iran considers the matter of reviewing the contract of 1973 while taking into account the needs of the people of the Hirmand River Basin is unrealistic and it will never be acceptable for Afghanistan. The demand for water on both sides will increase. The Hirmand River is not physically able to meet the demand of both sides. Mutual pressure can only ensure short-term solutions. Consequently, the water issue can be resolved comprehensively only through reciprocal concessions (Iran can either pay for uninterrupted, regulated water supply with oil or not charge transit money from Afghanistan) and by signing a new agreement based on this compromise.

The study researches the changes in the nitrogen compounds concentration (NH4+, NO2- i NO3- ) in water ecosystems of different types (the river Stubelka, the Khrinnyky reservoir, Lake Zasvitske and Morozivka quarry) and discusses ecological consequences of their balance shift. The author defines ammonium and nitrites as the predominant form of the nitrogen compounds. It was recorded the exceeding of the maximum permissible concentrations of ammonium nitrogen in the water of river Stubelka (1.16-3.44 times), the Khrinnyky reservoir (1.26-2.06 times), Lake Zasvitske (1.49 times) and Morozivka quarry (1.62 times) that is primarily caused by precipitation, household and agricultural land sewage as a result of mineral and organic fertilizers use. The nitrites concentration exceeds the standard values in the water of the river Stubelka (2.26 times), the Khrinnyky reservoir (1.48-1.77 times) and Lake Zasvitske (3.90-24.64 times) that indicates a slowdown in their oxidation to nitrates and a high risk of secondary pollution of water reservoirs. The nitrates concentration is within the limits of permissible values. It is demonstrated that the nitrogen compounds concentration in water reservoirs changes as follows: NH4+ - river > reservoir > quarry > lake; NO2-- lake > river > reservoir > quarry; NO3-- reservoir > river > quarry > lake. The balance shift in the ammonium ↔ nitrite ↔ nitrate system towards nitrates is most often characteristic of all water reservoirs in summer and towards ammonium in autumn. NO3 - maximum ratio was found in the Khrinnyky reservoir (94.81), Morozivka quarry (9.55), Lake Zasvitske (5.84) and the river Stubelka (3.80). The pH changes in the water of the river Stubelka (6.7-7.3), the Khrinnyky reservoir (7.0-7.5), Lake Zasvitske (5.9-7.2) and Morozivka quarry (6.5-7.4). The study researches fluctuations in the dissolved oxygen concentration in the water of the river Stubelka (5.7-8.5 mg O4+ maximum ratio was found in the Khrinnyky reservoir (94.81), Morozivka quarry (9.55), Lake Zasvitske (5.84) and the river Stubelka (3.80). The pH changes in the water of the river Stubelka (6.7-7.3), the Khrinnyky reservoir (7.0-7.5), Lake Zasvitske (5.9-7.2) and Morozivka quarry (6.5-7.4). The study researches fluctuations in the dissolved oxygen concentration in the water of the river Stubelka (5.7-8.5 mg O2/dm³), the Khrinnyky reservoir (4.4-9.5 mg O2/dm³), Lake Zasvitske (8.6-10.0 mg O2/dm³). The concentration of dissolved oxygen in water reservoirs is as follows: lake > quarry > reservoir > river. The presence of an indicator of «fresh» water pollution (ammonium nitrogen) in all reservoirs indicates a constant influx of pollutants, especially intensively to the river Stubelka and the Khrinnyky Reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]2/dm³). The concentration of dissolved oxygen in water reservoirs is as follows: lake > quarry > reservoir > river. The presence of an indicator of «fresh» water pollution (ammonium nitrogen) in all reservoirs indicates a constant influx of pollutants, especially intensively to the river Stubelka and the Khrinnyky Reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. In this work, the main aim was a retrospective analysis of the geo‐ecological state and problems of natural territorial complexes (NTC) of the valley of the plains area of the Kuma River in the context of hydrological and morphological dynamics for the period from the 18th century to the present.Material and Methods. The paper analyses the state of the landscape’s natural components in the region, for which topographic, sectoral and cadastral maps, digital relief model, satellite images were used. Openly available data of ministries, departments, archival and stock materials were used. The degree of anthropogenic transformation of the natural‐territorial complexes was calculated based on the coefficient of ecological stability of landscapes.Result. Using the example of the plains area of the Kuma River for the period of the 18th‐21st centuries, the geo‐ecological features of valley NTC were analysed. Studies have shown that at the present stage meandering remains an important condition for land use in the Kuma River valley in terms of both agricultural land and residential areas. Cartographic schemes of land use of a modelled plot in the valley of the Kuma River were constructed, allowing the assessment of the efficiency of the economic use of the fields of oxbow lakes.Conclusion. For the last two hundred years, valley NTC have remained significant for settlement purposes and related economic activities. The modern meandering belt together with the fields of the older such features create special environment forming conditions for the functioning of the stabilising components of the landscape, floodplain forest being a basic integral factor in the preservation of regional biodiversity. It is recommended that when organising the sustainable use of the land resources of river valleys for the purposes of territorial planning, the regional features of placement of meanders and oxbow lakes be taken into account.

Heavy metals have high toxicity that can cause water pollution. Cadmium (Cd) level in the water can interfere with fish physiology and result in excessive oxidative stress. Histopathological damage to the fish organs can use as a biomarkers providing early warning of environmental changes due to toxicants. This research was conducted in March – April 2021 using the survey method. Sampling was carried out three times a span of every two weeks at three stations along downstream water of the Gembong River, Pasuruan, East Java. Parameters observed included heavy metal content of Cd in the water and Mystus nigriceps organs, histopahtology of the liver, kidneys, and gill of Mystus nigriceps, and water quality as supporting data (temperature, pH, DO, and COD). Observation result of the heavy metal level of Cd in the water and Mystus nigriceps organs have exceeded the specified threshold. Tissue damage to the liver, kidneys, and gills as necrosis, cell degeneration, and hyperplasia mild to moderate. The highest damage was found at station three, each damage value of 70.7% liver, 59.9% kidney, and 70.9% gills. Water quality measurements result of temperature, pH, DO and COD still optimal supporting fish life. Based on the resulting study, it can conclude that there is a relationship between the amount of damage and the Cd levels in the water and Mystus nigriceps organs. The higher Cd level caused higher damage to the organs.

The paper features the problem of selection of Golden Horde era sites located in the area neighbouring the town of Majary in the territory of the Middle Kuma valley. The bulk of information about the sites is mostly contained in archival documents relating to the 16th – 18th centuries. At present there is information about 9 sites. The locations of five of them have been discovered. Two sites could possibly be locations of the towns of Majary-al-Jedid and Karakogun, which are known due to numismatic and written sources. The medieval climate and landscape in the region allowed to a certain extent cultivating the Kuma river valley, prone to seasonal flooding. Permanent settlements in the area neighbouring Majary could have been founded in the Upland of the Kuma river valley or the terrace areas above the flood plain in the Kuma river valley or the Kuma tributaries. The areas of the estuaries of the left and the right tributaries of the Kuma river seem promising for the search of Golden Horde era artefacts of everyday life. The sites (“Orlovskoye-1”, 13th – 14th centuries, “Preobrazhenskoye-1”) which are situated in the neighborhood of the Madjary hillfort could relate to the rural area around Majary. Specification of a number of sites situated in some distance from Majary requires a more precise definition.

The relevance of the study is conditioned by the necessity of achieving an uninterrupted and reliable operation of systems associated with the transportation of georesources. An important component of the engineering structures of these systems are bridge crossings. On the streams of the mountain zone, these crossings are often performed single-span. In the transition sections for establishing the bridge supports, the width of the river narrows, which leads to erosion of the bottom soil. The mark of the sole of the support and the very conditions of its long-term operation, depends on the accuracy of determining the maximum amount of erosion of the bottom of the river. From this point of view the problem under consideration is topical and will follow a solution that is of important practical value. The main aim of the work is modelling of channel transformations processes running at bridge crossing sections in mountain foothill zones and developing a calculation method for determining riverbeds deformations. The objects of the present study are initial parameters of the stream and channel characteristics of waterways in mountain foothill zones, hydrodynamic processes occurring at the bridge crossing section in rivers of a mountain foothill zone; channel deformations of the bottom; boundary conditions of the problem and the shape of the cross section of the channel. Methods. As a result of a relatively complete analysis of existing works the current state of the set problem has been assessed and the ways of development were marked; physical and theoretical modeling of the channel transformation at the bridge crossing area was performed; boundary conditions for various structural solutions of bridge crossings were determined; a method for hydraulic calculation of channel transformations at bridge crossings was developed for streams of mountain-foothills; numerical example was calculated according to the developed methods and the obtained results were analysed. Results. The paper introduces the physical model of the final stable stage of channel transformations at the bridge crossing section. The hydrological, hydraulic and channel parameters that are initial in solving the problem are identified. A mathematical model of nonuniform flow motion in the conditions of the transformed river bottom of the transition section was compiled taking into consideration equations of energy, continuity of flow and sediment balance. At the same time, the problem in view is aimed at establishing such a position of the bridge crossing bottom when the channel erosion will come to the end and the steady-state flow – restored. In elaborations boundary and boundary conditions of the problem were established. Dependences of the transverse form of the channel and the Shezy formula were also used. As a result of joint solutions of the above expressions a calculation method was developed to establish the position of the stabilized bottom on the transitional section of the river and hydraulic parameters of the flow. A numerical example of calculation made for determining the coordinates of the stabilized bottom and free surface in a bridge crossing is presented. The estimation of calculation results is given. The authors have made a conclusion on possibility of using the proposed method in calculations of parameters of transitional sections of mountain-foothill rivers.

This report provides a brief description of the field work on the Kuril Islands. It was performed within the framework of the R&D theme, projects of the RSF and the RFFR, which are realized in the laboratory of postmagmatic processes of the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology FEB RAS. Hydrological and hydrochemical works were performed on the rivers draining the slopes and thermal fields of the Sinarka, Kuntomintar volcanic massifs (Shiashkotan Island), and the Vernadsky and Karpinsky Ridges (Paramushir Island). The study of the chemical erosion of volcanic islands and the assessment of the hydrothermal export of magmatic volatiles are the goals of this work. Infrared photography was taken and the total flux of volcanic SO2 and diffusion flux of CO2 were measured on thermal fields in the caldera of Golovnin volcano. A detailed hydrogeochemical survey was made on the thermal fields of the Ebeko volcano to study the relationship of volcanic and hydrothermal activity of the volcano. For further analytical work, a large number of water and gas samples were taken and a representative collection of rocks and sediments was collected during the expedition.

The article presents the results of analysis of the water flow data for main rivers in the Bolshoy Kinel River basin from the moment of the instrumental observation start in 1993. Analysis of inter/annual runoff of the Bol Kinel River showed that the average flow rate was 37.7 m3/s, the largest – 72.6 m3/s (1991), the smallest – 8.54 m3/s (1935). Starting from the 60s of the last century, the years 1991, 1987, 1990, and the low-water years were 1967, 1975, and 1984. Due to climatic changes, the annual flow of the river for the period 1933-2010 increased from 34.6 m3/s to 37.5 m3/s. At the same time, the runoff of spring flood increased and the low-water runoff decreased. Analysis of seasonal runoff variability showed that the minimum runoff during the low-water period is a limiting factor for water supply. The smallest minimum monthly flow rate was 3.14 m3/s (January 1939). The lowest daily water flow rate was 0.71 m3/s (September 3.4, 1940). The results obtained prove that the Bol Kinel River during the low-water period of extremely dry years is an unreliable source of water supply. To ensure sustainable water supply in conditions of low water amid global climate warming, it is necessary to develop additional reserve options for supplying water to the urban population.

The article deals with the research of imagery of Danube River in the poems of Taras Shevchenko. The connection between Ukrainian folklore and the poet’s work is investigated as well.

The relevance of the research consists in studying hydrochemical river discharge as one of the main indicators of the ecological state of water objects.The main aim of the research is to obtain new knowledge on hydrochemical discharge of the rivers at southern Khabarovsk region, which are required for objective assessment of the ecological status of the region and for carrying out effective water protection measures.Objects of the research are the Amur River and seven lesser streams: Bikin, Khor, Podkhorenok, Bira, Kiya, Malaya Chirka, 2-aya Sedmaya. Methods. Concentration of major anions (Cl–, SO42–) wеrе аnаlyzеd by ion chromаtogrаphy (Shimаdzu LC‒10А); mаjor cаtions (Nа+, K+, Cа2+, Mg2+), trace elements and rare earth elements ‒ with ICP‒MS (Agilent, 7500с) method. The hydrocarbonate ion (HCO3-) concentration was taken as the total alkalinity. It wаs аnаlyzеd by dirеct titrаtion by Bruyеvich mеthod. Thе totаl minеrаlizаtion (∑i) is thе sum of concеntrаtions of mаjor rivеr wаtеr еlеmеnts. Results. In July 2011 Amur River and seven lesser streams (Bikin, Khor, Podkhorenok, Bira, Kiya, Malaya Chirka, 2-aya Sedmaya, located at southern part of Khabarovsk region, were sampled and analyzed for their major elements, trace elements and rare earth elements. During summer flood river waters are low-mineralizated, ∑i does not exceed 50 mg/l. Ca2+ is the predominant cation and HCO3– is the major counter-ion for cations in all samples. High concentrations of dissolved Al, Fe и Pb were found in the surface waters of all the rivers studied. In the Malaya Chirka River there are high concentrations of dissolved Co, Cu, Mn and extremely high Cd, exceeding the average global concentrations in 40 times. The concentration of the other trace elements in the studied rivers is general corresponded to their average global concentrations and is a characteristic of the natural regional background during summer floods. A regional level of total concentrations of soluble forms of rare earth elements (1,44–5,44 µg/l) was established. The distribution and level of rare earth elements concentrations in the studied river waters reflect the overall composition of the watershed rocks. The calculated total daily fluxes of major elements, trace elements and rare earth elements, supplied by the Bira, Kiya, Podhorenok, Bikin, Khor and Amur rivers, equal to 61894, 377 and 2,21 t/day, respectively.

This article analyzes the names which denote or could denote the mightest river of Europe – the Volga, namely Old Russian Volga, Mordovian Rav(o), Mari Jul, Turkic Ätil, preceded by Byzantine records as Ἀττίλας, Ἀστὴλ, Ἄτελ, Tίλ etc., further Ἀράξης, Ὄαρος and Λύκος by Herodotus, Ῥᾶ by Ptolemy, plus names of the mythical rivers Raŋhā- in the Young Avesta and Rasā́ - in the R̥gveda. Their etymologies are discussed in detail and the most probable of them are finally presented in specific quasi-homonymous chains of names that elucidate mechanisms of ethnic and language changes along the shores of the river. In Appendix the text passages are summarized to illustrate important information about the river in various literary and historical contexts.

Rivers have always played an important role in the development of the economy of individual regions. The Danube is one of the largest rivers in Europe. In the lower reaches it bathes the land of Budjak. In this article, we explored certain areas of economic activity, which became the basis for the formation of local economy in the ХІХ century. We analyzed the characteristics of the organization of fishing in the Danube Delta, identified the factors that contributed to its development. In the same article, the branches of agriculture and handicraft production were explored, which flourished thanks to irrigation by the waters of the Danube.

Kuruçay Basin, Eastern Anatolia Region, Upper Euphrates region, Inner Taurus Depressions region and Malatya Basin. The surface area of the basin is about 500 km2. The basin is naturally located on a road route. There are 6 settlements in the basin in 1560 and 13 settlements in 1935. This situation is due to the development of the population and the opening of new settlements. The population in the study area was 8914 in 1955, but rose up to 10708 in 1985 and declined to 7414 today. Population development is similar to those in the surrounding environment. In fact, settlements in the basin and their neighbors follow a similar pattern with the overall situation of the rural population in Turkey. In other words, the loss of population has become a common problem of rural settlements in Turkey. The distinctive feature of the research area in terms of population is the fact that migration is constantly on the agenda throughout its history. The migrations to Europe after 1960 and the inhabitants migrating within the country to begin in this period show that the population movement in the basin is excessive. This study tries to reveal the changes in the spatial distribution of the population in the basin with its rural characteristics, together with its causes.

The species composition and abundance of macrozoobenthos was studied in rapids and backwaters of the Kem’ River (draining to the White Sea). 93 species and supra-species taxa of invertebrates were identified. Zoobenthos of the rapids was more diverse, the bulk of it made up of amphibiotic insects at the larval stage – mayfliesof the family Baetidae (Ephemeroptera), caddisflies of the families Hydropsychidae and Rhyacophilidae, stoneflies (Plecoptera), dipterans of the subfamily Orthocladiinae. The backwaters are poorer in species diversity, the species of chironomids of the subfamily Chironominii predominate. The zoobenthos biomass in the rapids (1112–2150ind./m2 and 1.7–6.9 g/m2) is mainly composed of Trichoptera, Plecoptera and Bivalvia. The backwaters are poor in zoobenthos (390–1210 ind./m2 and 0.8–2.8 g/m2). The biomass is formed by Bivalvia and Gastropoda, Oligochaeta and Chironomidae. Local, highbiomass(up to 460 g/m2) aggregations of large bivalves Anodonta cygnea have been found. In the trophic structure, the most indicative is the share of passive filter feeders, which is high in the rapids in the lower reaches of the river and downstream of flowage lakes. According to the composition of saprobity indicator organisms, watercourses of the Kem’ River catchment belong to the β-mesosaprobic zone.

The hydrografic network in the Republic of Moldova and some historical aspects of micro-Hydro Power Plants (mHPP) on the country territory have been described. There are presented some models of micro hydro damless samples developed by the Technical University of Moldova.

The article demonstrates the hydrological characteristics of the basin of the Bolshaya Golubaya river and present condition of water objects of this territory. This study includes the results of two major phases. The theoretical one was to explore general and specialized geographical literature on the research area and to analyze a large volume of cartographic material. The practical phase consisted of a series of expeditions in the research area with a number of special studies. The authors analyse the literature data on the hydrology of the region and supplement it with their own field studies. The authors have found out the exact number of water objects in the research area. These include the Bolshaya Golubaya river, springs, ponds. All the discovered water bodies have been thoroughly studied, described and put on maps of the current state of the hydrological objects on this territory. According to the results of the conducted research, the author makes conclusions about the general condition of water bodies of the basin of the Bolshaya Golubaya river. This condition is unsatisfactory due to both climatic changes and processes of irrational nature use. All these processes lead to progressive degradation of water bodies of the basin of the Bolshaya Golubaya river, and, as a consequence, their partial or complete disappearance. In this regard, there is a real danger that this area will become unusable for organization of various forms of traditional and alternative nature management. The author suggests the ways of solving the identified environmental problems based on hydrological characteristics and current state of the region. The results of this research can be used by managers of agricultural and other enterprises at the stage of planning and realization of different projects in this area and also for rationalization of nature management.

Relevance. Rare earth elements (REE) and parameters of the basic salt composition (BSC) are the indicators of the ecological state of river waters and they can be used for water subjects monitoring system. The aim of the research is a comprehensive study of the REE and BSC to identify the factors determining the anthropogenic load on the basins of the rivers of southern Primorye. Research methods. Concentration of major ions (Cl-, SO[2- 4], Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+) were analyzed by ion chromatography (Shimadzu LC-20A), and REE were studied by mass spectrometry with an inductively coupled plasma (Thermo Finnigan Element 2). pH was measured by potentiometric method, total alkalinity was analyzed by direct titration by Bruyevich method, and total mineralization ([sigma]n) is the total concentration of major ions. Results. Seasonal hydrochemical study of the BSC of southern Primorye rivers showed that river water is low-mineralized, average annual [sigma]n does not exceed 100-150 mg/l. the investigation detected the significant increase in a part of sulfate ions in rivers Knevichanka, Razdolnaya and Artemovka during the spring flood, which is associated with fuel combustion in winter season, and household sewage. Regional level of total concentration of dissolved REE in the studied surface water varies from 0,16 to 2,72 mg/l. REE interval fluctuations in the water of some rivers is from 0,20 to 0,56 mg/l. High concentration of rare earth elements and dissolved salts in surface water of Razdolnaya, Artemovka, Knevichanka and Shkotovka rivers is associated with anthropogenic load on the basins of these rivers.

The study area is located in the zone Eltonskyi salt dome structure of closed type. Post-salt structure, located in the inner zone of development of the large domes with isomorphic structure, around which the edges of the compensation depressions are formed subsidiaries domes of the second generation. Elevated occurrence of the halogen strata observed in 2-blocks of the structure of the North-East and South-West. Between these blocks is placed the "compensatory" basin of the lake Elton. On the formation of the surface areas was strongly influenced by neotectonic processes. Examples of this are the city Ulagan and upland Prsniy Liman. The modern relief of this area was formed in the quaternary time was accompanied by the repeated transgressions of the sea. Elton salt dome structure is rich in hydro-resources - mineral springs, rivers, salt lakes, brine of the lake Elton and sulphide mud. Elton dome with extensive marcopoli depressions, is in the favorable conditions for the hydrocarbon generation and is promising deposits of hydrocarbons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]